(no subject)

[work_inprogress]

Peter knew the pack was attempting to save someone's life, but someone else's life had been in jeopardy who he cared about a lot more than some random teacher. He'd been hanging out in the corner of Cora's room, watching her and Derek, waiting for her to wake up. When he noted Derek's eyes drooping, he said he was going to get them coffee and would be right back.

Moving through the halls, he avoided the nurses's station, not wanting a run in with Melissa McCall. He did the same on the way back and was almost back to the room when he heard a scream that ricocheted through him, plucking hard at his eardrums, though not close enough to drop him to the ground.

He did drop the coffee, though, because he knew that scream. He'd heard it in his dreams, elicited it from her more than once last year.

Lydia.

Ignoring the splash of the hot coffee on the floor and not bothering to return to Derek and Cora, Peter took off at a run. He heard his name distantly shouted, but he didn't stop for it. He didn't stop for anything.

When he hit the school, he closed his eyes and felt for her, feeling the edges of her mind, seeing what she saw. He'd gone to school here; he knew it well, and the images he got from her helped him pinpoint her location. Students, parents and teachers were spilling out of the auditorium doors, though, screaming in a way that made him grateful he even could feel her--that she was still alive.

The crowd made going in problematic, so he went around, twisting toward the hall of classrooms where she was. Scanning rooms as he went by, he caught sight of something that about made his heart stop: Lydia, tied to a chair, a garrotte around her neck, and some woman moving toward the fallen sheriff. He couldn't see Lydia moving, didn't know if she was all right, but there was blood in the air--hers, Scott's, Sheriff Stilinski's.

Peter's eyes glowed blue and his claws and fangs extended as he growled. With a running leap he threw himself through the windows, knocking into the woman and sending her farther away from Lydia. He snarled, almost fully wolfed out, noting the others at the door. He wanted the woman, wanted her blood, but how much and how hard depending on how hurt Lydia was, so he spun to her, moving to kneel in front of her chair, senses trained on the woman for any sudden moves.

By the time he reached Lydia, his features were normal again, though his eyes were still glowing bright blue and the claws of his right hand were still extended. He slashed through the bindings holding her, careful not to nick her skin, then reached to pluck the garrotte away, eyeing the marks on her throat with a fury that had him growling again.

Another crash from behind him startled him enough to look and see the girl and the sheriff disappear. Whatever. He had her scent. He could hunt her down. His attention focused back on Lydia.

"Are you badly hurt?" She obviously wasn't all right, but he needed the physical damage report first.

Comments

[wantadistraction]

"He did." Melissa nodded, leading them out of the room and down the hall. "You should know they might want you to stay over night for observation."

"No." Lydia knew they wouldn't let Peter stay if she did. "I just want to leave after I see the doctor. I'll sign myself out."

"Lydia?" Allison pushed away from the wall outside of the room Lydia had been assigned to. Honestly, she hated hospitals since the last time she had been in one was when she had found out her mother was dead. Before that, when Lydia had been attacked. Still, she steeled herself against the bad feelings. "Do we know anything?" She looked at Melissa.

"Not yet, sweetie." Melissa shook her head. "Why don't you take her in there and I'll see what I can find out?" She turned to walk away.

[work_inprogress]

Peter glanced at Allison, still wary, but Melissa hadn't tried to make him step away, hadn't made any noises, yet, about calling Lydia's parents, and he was good with that.

He let Melissa go, pushing Lydia's chair back into the room and helped her back in the bed, hovering close, frowning. "If they want you to stay, you should stay." God knew what he'd do, but likely snarl at anyone who wouldn't let him sleep in the chair next to her bed. "Head injuries aren't anything to take lightly..." And they hadn't even looked at her throat, yet.

[wantadistraction]

"I'm fine. I'll be fine." Lydia murmured with a little frown, settling on the bed before glancing at Allison who was watching them with a little frown. "Oh, just ask."

"Fine." Allison's brows drew together. "How long has this been going on?"

"Weeks." Lydia informed her. "And no, we're not stopping it."

Allison's frown deepened though the focus was more inwards then. Her best friend had been carrying on with Peter for weeks and she hadn't even noticed. It had gone completely over her head. Huffing then, she moved to sit down in a nearby chair, pursing her lips. "So it clearly wasn't Aiden."

"No, it wasn't." Lydia shook her head ever so slightly. "It's been Peter this entire time."

[work_inprogress]

Peter was far less certain about the fine part of that and was going to reserve judgment until the doctor checked her out. Most days they'd probably want a police statement from her, too, but given the sheriff's kidnapping, he figured they could keep anyone from bothering her for a while, hopefully.

Again, as with him...there was nothing human authorities could do.

He watched Allison as she asked the question, back to Lydia as she answered, smiling a tiny bit at the defiant statement, though he scowled at the mention of Aiden, the rage at Cora's injury and the boy trying to say they wouldn't help flaring again. He suppressed the growl, but his eyes flashed and he had to move, prowling around the room restlessly, and that much movement as opposed to his usual stillness probably said more about how thrown he was than anything else could have.

[nosuchthingasfate]

Allison and Lydia both watched him, one with a wary gaze and the other worried. Allison could feel how close the wolf was to the surface and her hunter instincts told her to be ready just in case.

"We'll find her." She stated then, glancing at them both. "And once we'v dealt with her, we'll deal with the Alpha pack."

[work_inprogress]

Peter paused to shoot her a slightly sardonic look, even though it was what he'd been spouting before.

"Knowing who she is helps, at least. We don't just have one person to track."

The Alphas...still worried him, but he remembered, t least, that Hayley had been going to call the vampires, even if he didn't realize they'd arrived. He hesitated, watching Allison for a moment, then added, "We may have reinforcements on the latter."

He doubted they'd care much about the darach, who hadn't threatened Hayley.

[nosuchthingasfate]

"Reinforcements?" That made Allison frown a little as her mind automatically jumped to the idea of there being more werewolves arriving in Beacon Hills. "Who?"

[work_inprogress]

Peter wasn't sure he was quite ready to share everything with her. Fuck knew he didn't want her and her father sharpening stakes--that might get them all killed, from what he'd heard.

"Derek's new girlfriend's family. The pack tried to use her against him. Her family's not pleased. And they are...somewhat formidable when displeased, or so I've heard."

[wantadistraction]

"So there are more werewolves?" This came from Lydia now as she frowned just a bit. "No offense but that doesn't sound like it's going to make anything better. What if it just gives Deucalion more targets?"

[work_inprogress]

"Not werewolves," Peter reminded her, with a wry smile, though his gaze slid to Allison far more warily. "Her...ex's family, I should have said."

A tight smile at Allison. "They're still quite fond of her."

His fingers brushed lightly over Lydia's, but there was a warning there. He didn't want the Argents knowing about the baby, especially not whose it was. He had no doubt Chris Argent knew of Klaus, and he was not going to go and make Hayley more of a target by exposing her vulnerability.

[wantadistraction]

It clicked for Lydia then, the recognition flickering across her face as her eyes widened ever so slightly at Peter. Not that Allison seemed to see it though as she was watching Peter closely and not Lydia.

"Well...as long as they can help." Was all she could really say.

[work_inprogress]

"I think they might be just what we need to be an ace in the hole," Peter said thoughtfully.

He settled closer to her on the bed, taking a moment to tilt her chin up so he could check her pupils, see how they were doing. Then he frowned, shooting an impatient glance at the door.

"Where is the damn doctor?"

[wantadistraction]

"They're short staffed, remember?" Allison pointed out, thinking of the three doctors that had disappeared. That Jennifer had killed.

Melissa walked in at that moment. "The CT scan looks fine, Lydia. There's no real damage beyond what looks like a bit of a concussion." She stopped by the bed as she noticed the girl's relieved smile. "But the doctor still wants a look at you, especially your throat." A pause. "Was there any other injuries?"

"No, luckily the Sheriff showed up." Then Scott and Peter.

Melissa sobered as she looked at Peter and then Allison. "Have you guys heard anything yet?"

"No." Allison frowned. "My Dad hasn't checked in yet."

[work_inprogress]

Peter's relief that there was no lasting damage done to Lydia's head was palpable, and he squeezed her hand. Short staffed or not, he was about to go drag a doctor, any doctor, in to her room, though, so she could settle and rest or go home and rest or whatever they'd let her do.

If it was just a concussion, and not a serious one, he could make sure to keep an eye on her, to watch for anything getting more serious and waking her up every two hours.

Melissa's question snapped him back to the larger issues and he shook his head a little. "I haven't heard from Scott or Isaac, either." He assumed they'd contact him, at least, since Derek was with Cora.

[wantadistraction]

"As soon as we know what's going on with Lydia, I'll go and find them." Allison nodded.

"You should go now." Lydia whispered, looking over at her friend with a serious gaze that said she wouldn't accept any argument from the hunter. "They're going to need you, okay?"

"But Lydia..."

"Go." She said it firmly this time. "Really, they need your help. They need everyone's help to find Stiles's Dad." She would even suggest Peter go to help them but she couldn't stand the idea of him leaving. Of walking into a fight with the Darach.

"Go." Melissa echoed softly. "If anything happens here, I will let you know."

Allison hesitated and then she was looking at Peter. "You better look after her." Then she was gone stalking out of the room.

[work_inprogress]

Peter wasn't leaving her, especially when Cora was just down the hall, as well. He wouldn't be much use in a fight, too unfocused with worry. Still, the "everyone," made him shift, uncomfortable.

At the same time, he was relieved when Allison left, just arching an eyebrow at her order, because, obviously, he was going to do that.

He glanced up at Melissa when Allison was gone. "Can you get her something for the pain now?" She hadn't said anything, but he could almost feel the headache, phantom pain in his head.

[wantadistraction]

"Yes, I can get her something now." At least something mild.

Watching Melissa leave again, Lydia relaxed against the pillows while watching Peter. "I'm not staying here tonight." She informed him then. "I'd be a lot safer at your place."

[work_inprogress]

"Thank you," he murmured, and for more than the pain killers.

He switched his gaze to her, frowning slightly. "If the doctor agrees that the concussion is just mild, then we can go. I can watch you. But if he thinks you need monitoring..." He frowned more, shaking his head. "Cora's here. And Derek and I can watch over both of you." Being Cora's uncle and one of her two remaining family members at least kept him on the hall.

He made a slight face. "Someone at some point is going to want to call your mother. They might even be legally required to." Though he wasn't certain exactly how that went if Lydia told them not to--patient's rights, and all.

[wantadistraction]

"Fine, then she'll take me home and you can come over after." She paused for a moment before frowning thoughtfully at the door. "Unless you want to stay here with Cora?"

[work_inprogress]

"I want to be with you," he said quietly. Granted, it would almost be better if they stayed, in case Derek or Cora needed him, but he wanted her to be comfortable, able to rest.

[wantadistraction]

Lydia sighed softly, looking away from him again before letting her eyes drift closed which made the headache at least a tiny bit better as the hospital lights were killer for her head. Truthfully, she really didn't feel safe anywhere any more and she wasn't sure she would till they had taken care of Jennifer.

"Maybe they'd let me stay in Cora's room." She mused out loud without opening her eyes.

[work_inprogress]

Peter brightened a bit at that idea. It would give him and Derek a strategic location to watch both girls, let them be there if they were needed, and strength in numbers--even if they were smaller numbers.

"There is an extra bed in there. Melissa could probably arrange it, especially if we mention it's for your safety."

[wantadistraction]

Lydia still wanted to go home but she knew he was hesitant to let her do so as well as hesitant about leaving Cora. So, for him, she decided to consent to staying as long as she could be placed in Cora's room.

It really wasn't all that hard to convince Melissa of it either when she came back with some painkillers for Lydia. It would take a few minutes to get everything in order but it wasn't long before she was back with another wheelchair to take Lydia to her room.

[work_inprogress]

Peter actually breathed a little easier that that--he was worried about her, about her head and her other wounds and having something besides just his senses monitoring her, making sure she didn't slide into a coma or something, made him breathe a little easier.

Knowing no one could kick him out of the room, even if her mother or father showed up, was another relief. Being able to watch over Cora, too, was helpful to his self control, as well. Even just being with Derek helped the wolf--like it or not, upset as they both were or not, Derek was his Alpha, and the wolf needed that.

He let Lydia get settled, then reached out to brush fingers slowly through her hair, soft and easy and then...caught his breath as finally, now that he was quieter, his skin tingled, then crawled, blackness sliding up along his veins as he instinctively started drawing out her pain.

It was something he hadn't done since before the fire...something he, honestly, had forgotten they could do, and even if he'd remembered, he would have thought it something he could no longer do, for all the empathy it required. Really...all he could do was stare at his hand, not even flinching at the pain that slid into him for his body to deal with.

[wantadistraction]

The painkillers had helped to dull some of the pain but not completely as Melissa still wasn't comfortable in giving her anything too strong. Still, it made resting easier as they got her settled into the bed across the room from where Derek was sitting with Cora, looking a bit surprised to see Lydia and Peter though he understood the reasoning behind it.

Closing her eyes, Lydia quietly tilted her head towards Peter's touch, seeking the comfort and the soothing connection as his fingers brushed slowly through her hair and over her skin.

Then, suddenly, it was a bit easier to breathe. The ache in her head and her throat grew easier to deal with, almost like she had healed a little even if the physical marks were the same. Opening her eyes in surprise, she saw it then. Saw the blackness slithering up his arm, along his veins, and then she saw the look on his face.

"What...." She gasped.

Derek glanced up at the noise and stopped at the sight of what Peter was doing. It was something he knew they could do but it wasn't possible for all of them. It was usually for the more compassionate of their kind like Scott and Isaac. And now Peter, it seemed.